SWAN SNATCHES VICTORY BY CENTIMETERS OVER PRIETZEL AT DRP

Topics:  James Swan

Matt Panure
Mid American Stock Car Series
June 11, 2011

WISCONSIN DELLS, Wis. (June 11, 2011) – If a rivalry was rekindled at Rockford Speedway in April between two past Mid-American Stock Car Series Champions, it was set ablaze on Saturday night at Dells Raceway Park. James Swan chased down Bill Prietzel just in time to slip past at the stripe for a thrilling end to Dells Duel Part One.

Prietzel led 39 of the 40 laps in the feature event, and most of the final lap, but Swan eked out a victory by a slim 0.029 seconds. It was a product of determination and pushing his Chevy Monte Carlo to the limit over the final ten circuits.

“I didn’t think I was going to get there,” Swan said.

The chase was on after Swan cleared Adam Bendzick for the second spot on lap 30 of the 40-lap event. Swan was almost a straightaway behind Prietzel and looked as though he needed a caution to tighten the gap. However, Swan chewed up almost a quarter of a second per lap and had caught Prietzel with just four laps to go.

“I tried for five or six laps to chase Bill down and didn’t think I was gaining anything,” Swan explained. “But after a couple laps I gained a bunch. I was hoping I was going to get there before the end, and I did.”

Once he caught up to Prietzel, passing the three-time MASCS Champion was a different story. Swan tested the inside lane a few times, but with one to go still sat in Prietzel’s rear view mirror. Swan said he knew the last lap was a chance for him to do something heroic.

Swan soared to the inside on Prietzel, who was wary of utilizing the new concrete. In fact, on two restart opportunities, Prietzel chose the outside – which, one year ago, would have been unheard of at Dells Raceway Park.

The two were door-to-door entering turn three and four, and engaged in a drag race to the line that saw Swan gain his first ever victory at Dells Raceway Park.

Going to the new concrete was just fine for Swan. “Once the tires heated up it got a little slippery, there was a little bump that upset the car, but aside from that it was great,” he said. “It made for really great racing.”

Although he led most of the race, driving out front was no easy task for Prietzel. Prietzel was challenged early on by former DRP winner Mark Pluer and later by Adam Bendzick. Both drivers tested the inside lane on Prietzel, but neither could muster enough of a run to find a way through.

Pluer settled for third, Bendzick was fourth and Tyler Bauknecht rounded out the top five.

When asked if Swan and Prietzel would be locked in another battle atop MASCS standings, as they had in 2001, 2007 and 2008, Swan said it would be a good possibility.

“I sure hope so – so far so good.”

The next event for the Mid-American Stock Car Series is Friday, July 1 at Madison International Speedway for the Firecracker 40. More information will be available at a later time through the MASCS web site.

QUICK RESULTS (full results available by clicking Motorstats link above)

40-lap Dells Duel Part One:
1. James Swan, Lake Geneva, Wis.; 2. Bill Prietzel, Richfield, Wis.; 3. Mark Pluer, Brookfield, Wis.; 4. Adam Bendzick, Apple Valley, Minn.; 5. Tyler Bauknecht, Reedsville, Wis.; 6. Dan Church Jr., Big Bend, Wis.; 7. Lyle Nowak, Wausau, Wis.; 8. Brian Back, Rudolph, Wis.; 9. Rick Corso, McHenry, Ill.; 10. Bret Widdis, Manistique, Mich.

Fast Qualifier: Back – 14.460